HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR REFUGEES IN SABAH FROM MAQASID SYARIAH PERSPECTIVE: A PRELIMINARY SURVEY

Abstract

Access to health facilities for refugees in Sabah is not a new thing. It has been debated since the 1970s when the group first arrived in Sabah. After more than 50 years, refugees in Sabah are still faced with limited access to health facilities. Although Malaysia has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol, there is no denying that health facilities are important for the survival of refugees in Sabah. Therefore, this study was carried out to identify the current practice of health services for the refugee group and debate it from the perspective of Maqasid Syariah whether it is in line with the policy of caring for the religion, life, intellect, lineage/dignity and property of the group. This qualitative study was conducted using the literature method by applying the content analysis approach. The results of the study found that the current health services for refugees in Sabah have not been able to cover the 5 main human needs (daruri) in a balanced manner according to the framework of Maqasid Syariah. This study is expected to be one of the guidelines in the construction of a balanced health service policy for the refugee group in accordance with the principles of Maqasid Syariah which safeguards the rights of essential human needs (daruri) namely religion, life, intellect, lineage/dignity and property in achieving benefits and preventing life harm.